You should always value your friends

The Saturday Afternoon Gang, Hull city centre, 14th April 2018


L-R: Howell, Ian, Daffy, Steve, Phil, Floydy

I have known all of these people for over 30 years, they are my best mates and through our shared love of music we became good friends. In various combinations we meet up each Saturday afternoons for a few pints and a chat. I trust them all like I would my family as you would expect from friends I have known so long.

Howell – 66, married, retired welder and silo engineer.
Ian – 69, married, retired British Aerospace engineer. Former record shop owner. Recovered from triple heart bypass two years ago.
Daffy – 70, single, retired antiques restorer, former Asda employee. Recovered from prostate cancer.
Steve – 62, married, welder.
Phil – late 60’s, married, worked in publishing. Informed us yesterday that he has bone cancer and has less than two years to live. We haven't seen him for some time and were very shocked. We took him for a pint. Phil's daughter took this photo.
Floydy – 53, married, warehouse stock controller, fitness fanatic and social media irritant.

Treasure your friends, folks. Look after them as they look after you.

Do others have a regular set of friends they keep in contact with?

Re: You should always value your friends

I am still in touch with my friends from school, Linda, Libby, Babs and Sue and, although we live a distance apart, we manage to get get together every couple of years and chat on the phone when we can.
I have made lots of friends in my life, but I always find that the bond with my school friends is stronger because we all understand how each other thinks.

Re: You should always value your friends

I'm just about to set off out to meet up for 11am for brunch with 3 of my schoolfriends, we meet up regularly, been friends for 53 years.

I have a wide circle of friends as I am a friendly, sociable type of person. Although I'm close with all my friends I have one very special 'best friend' who I would trust my life with, she's my Sister from another Mother.

Re: You should always value your friends

Great Pic' Floydy which made Me feel very nostalgic for My wee Gang from My youth who have all passed away from different types of cancer...I miss Them all every day and feel very lonely without Them..yes cherish Them well,xx

Re: You should always value your friends

We have just a very few friends we have known for years, whom we consider our best friends, even though we very rarely see them. All the rest we consider to be friendly acquaintances.

Re: You should always value your friends

I try to cherish the few friends I've got but sometimes I don't think they cherish me!!

We had the funerals of 3 good friends to go to last year - not many left now..

Re: You should always value your friends

I have two childhood friends that I still see a lot of when I'm down in Perth and we Skype weekly when I'm up North. I have a few friends up here but we're not as close as my childhood ones..

Re: You should always value your friends

Floyd, looking at the pic I see the smiles on all the faces....that speaks volumes about your friendship. Lucky you.

I have a few people I keep in touch with and always will. I do anticipate meeting more people in the future when I move and hopefully will add to my circle of friends.

Re: You should always value your friends

You have done well to keep in touch for so long Floydy. I didn't keep in touch with mine and sometimes regret that.

Re: You should always value your friends

I still meet up with 2 of my closest childhood friends.. Ffion and Angharad. We live within about 20 miles of each other.

I have one Uni friend I'm still in touch with but we only meet up once in a blue moon.
Sane goes for mothers and fathers of children (now adults)who are close friends of my children

My closest friends otherwise are my colleagues.
We socialise often but none of them are as close to me as Ffi.
She knows everything about me, we met when we were 6 years old